Elemenolides from Zinnia peruviana and evaluation of their antibacterial and α-glucosidase inhibitory activities

Abstract

A phytochemical study from Zinnia peruviana L. resulted in the isolation of a new elemene-type sesquiterpene lactone, zinaflorin VI (1), along with the known elemenolides 2–5 and the flavone onopordin (6). The structures of these compounds were determined by analysis of their spectroscopic data. The antibacterial activity of the γ-elemenolides 1, 4, and 5 was evaluated. The δ-elemenolide juniperin (7), previously isolated from Zinnia juniperifolia, was included in this assay. Compounds 1 and 7 were active against Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus with MICs = 32 and 64 µg/mL for compound 1 and MICs = 4 and 8 µg/mL for compound 7. The α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of compounds 1, and 4–7 was evaluated, but none of these compounds was found to be active.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords:

• Elemenolides
• zinaflorins
• sesquiterpene lactones
• juniperin
• Zinnia peruviana
• antibacterial activity
• α-glucosidase inhibitory activity

Acknowledgements

We thank I. Chávez, H. Ríos, R. Patiño, R. Gaviño, A. Peña, E. Huerta, B. Quiroz, C. Márquez, J. Pérez, L. Velasco and C. García for technical assistance and J. L. Villaseñor for the determination of the plant material.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.